‘I would never sell my soul to the highest bidder’ - Des van Rooyen to Zondo commission
Updated | By Gaopalelwe Phalaetsile
Former finance minister Des van Rooyen has told the commission of inquiry into state capture that there is no truth to reports that was appointed by former president Jacob Zuma in 2015 “to capture treasury”.
Zuma appointed Van Rooyen to replace former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene.
Nene told the commission that he believed Zuma removed him due to his opposition to the nuclear deal.
He believed the deal to be too costly.
His former deputy, Mcebisi Jonas, went further to tell the commission that Ajay Gupta allegedly invited him to his home in Saxonwold and offered him R600 million and the position of finance minister provided he does the family favours.
Former Treasury director-general Lungisa Fuzile also told the commission that the ANC's Enoch Godongwana informed him that the department would get a Gupta-linked minister.
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This was around the time of Van Rooyen’s appointment.
But Van Rooyen told the commission on Tuesday that the allegations are unfounded.
"The so-called court of public opinion has already concluded and issued a verdict that myself and anyone associate with President Jacob Zuma are corrupt and for those corrupt reasons allowed private interests to capture our democratic state and its institutions.”
Van Rooyen said the commission must extend its terms of reference to look into how white capital has captured the state.
"Why was the private sector so involved in the ruling parties elective conference. The private sector pumped in so much money just to make sure their preferred candidate comes out of that. Is this not a sign of state capture?"
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